Culture

Well it's happened. Cannabis has become legal in two states and the day has passed where stores opened their doors to hundreds if not thousands of stoners, eager to get their hands on the first batch of legal cannabis since the drug war began and people began referring to the plant as Devil's Lettuce. It's definitely amazing that we are able to see the beginning of a cannabis accepting society, in which stoners are no longer prosecuted and disliked.

CNN came up with a list of a few things that people should know about the new laws that are being put forth by Colorado officials in order to keep the cannabis trade under control. With shops worrying every day about whether their supply will last until close and cannabis tourism growing in to a bigger business every day, raking in the money for the state, people are starting to worry that this will form a problem in the future.

1. How is cannabis legal?

Because democracy. Because we're still allowed to vote. The citizens of Colorado voted to have this measure passed and thankfully, the officials listened.

2. Why legalize?

Cannabis will save taxpayers billions of dollars a year, not to mention create a huge revenue for the state itself, since cannabis is a huge tourism attraction.

3. Is medical separate from recreational?

Yes. Recreational marijuana will have a 25% tax on it, as well as a state tax. This makes marijuana one of the highest taxed products in the state. Medical users do not have to pay the 25% tax and will continue to receive their medicine at the normal price. Medical shops and recreational shops will be separated.

4. How much pot can one purchase at one time?

Recreational users that are 21 or older can purchase up to an ounce at a time with a Colorado issued ID. Those from out of state can buy up to a quarter. Recreational users can also share weed with another, being able to "gift" in amounts up to an ounce.

5. Where can I light up?

Not in the park! Or in the street! Or anywhere that's considered public. Be careful when toking up, as you can still get ticketed for smoking in a public place. However, you can smoke on private properties so you're safe at your buddies house or curled up in bed on a snowy day.

6. Can I grow my own?

You can still grow your own bud. A person may have up to six plants in their home but the garden must be enclosed and locked.

7. If I'm underage, can I still smoke?

Person's under the age of 21 can't buy weed but for those 18-21, marijuana has been decriminalized, allowing these young people to avoid jail time and receive a fine instead. Those that are under 18 can still be sent to a juvenile facility if found in possession of cannabis.

8. Can you get a marijuana DUI?

Yes. They can measure the amount of THC in your blood and it must be below 5 nanograms. How exactly they plan to test drivers for cannabis consumption is a mystery, since the amount of THC that remains in a person depends upon the person. Everyone is different. The marijuana DUI is still a work in progress.

9. What about our friends the Feds?

As always, this relationship is one of extreme strain. In August, the Feds said that they would no longer interfere with the legal states. However, we can't really be sure that the Feds will stand by that statement or not.

Celebrities support cannabis and this is a common fact. There are tons of artists that have songs about smoking blunts and drinking and selling/buying weed. Plus, with the stress of such a fast paced life, who wouldn't be smoking bud? But while celebrities have a huge effect on society, they don't seem to have the same effect on politicians. The following five people have been involved (or are involved) in politics and are supporters of cannabis legalization.

1. Joycelyn Elders is a Former US Surgeon General. During and after her tenure, she spoke out regarding many policies, including the legalization of cannabis.

2. Politician Ron Paul served as state rep in Texas and helped to cosponsor the States' Rights To Medical Marijuana Act. He's voted in favor of multiple hemp and cannabis related issues. Unfortunately, since he didn't have bottomless pockets, he didn't get elected for President like a lot of stoners hoped.

3. As an actor-gone-politician, Jess Venture has said numerous times that the legalization of marijuana would help to lower crime rates everywhere and boost the American economy up out of its slump.

4. Oprah has admitted to smoking ganja before. While she may not be a direct politician, she is an activist for many causes and could do wonders with her sway over society to promote the legalization of cannabis, including influence politicians. No one is safe from the media.

5. Obama himself has admitted to using cannabis. Not only that but he's the subject of a good amount of cannabis related memes around the internet.

Having the support of influential people like these is extremely important. If we have important politicians on our side, then our voices might be heard. Cannabis stands a better chance of becoming legal with every day that passes. It will be a great day when we can finally smoke where ever we want and get our cannabis from reputable places, rather than dark parking lots.

In case you have been living under a rock the last couple of days, marijuana sales are now legal in Colorado. I read about one store serving over 1,000 customers on opening day. As Russ Belville pointed out, “if each customer bought at least an 1/8th for $40 bucks, that’s $14,000 in tax revenue generated. Off of one store. In one day.” Now imagine when all of the retail outlets open up in Colorado, and Washington, and eventually beyond. That will be a pile of money that is so huge even Kevin Sabet will have to get on board.

Anyone that was following the marijuana sales in Colorado yesterday probably noticed that the reported prices for marijuana sales rose during the day. The first official purchase was by Iraq War veteran Sean Azzariti. His receipt can be seen below:

That’s $59.74 for an eighth of Bubba Kush and a truffle, plus tax. As the day went on, I saw numbers go up over $60 for an eighth. People on the West Coast were blown away by that price. Living in Oregon, I used to be blown away by those prices, but now I talk to so many people via the blog in other states and realize that how you feel about the price in of marijuana in one area depends on where you live.

If you live on the West Coast, you can find cheap eighths all day of top shelf marijuana. $20-30 is normal in Oregon where I live, and can even get cheaper if you have the right friends. So looking at Colorado prices can seem crazy. However, go just one state over to Idaho where my cousins live, and their perspective is way different. A $60 eighth of Girl Scout Cookies sounds like an unrealistically great deal to them, and they are making plans to visit to Colorado ASAP.

How do you feel about a $60 eighth? Keep in mind, I’ve been to Colorado, and they have some of the best of the best. I know when I’m far from home, I don’t have a problem paying a premium price for premium marijuana. Or in very desperate times, even a premium price for medium marijuana. I remember one time when I was in Vegas and was on day four of no weed I bought half a gram for $20 of some solid Kush and was stoked to have it! It all just depends on the scenario I suppose.

There's multiple different kinds of percs that get put in to bongs these days. As more glass artists appear on the market, more and more interesting percolators become available. Most people know the traditional ones like the shower head, the dome, and the tree. But these days, there's a lot more going on in that filtration device than you think! Here's three of the newest, most eye catching percs that are available to stoners!

Fritted Disc;

This has to be my personal favorite. The fritted disc perc is basically a sheet of crushed glass with hundreds of holes. The smoke is filtered through these multiple holes. Not only does this make the hit incredibly smooth, it looks incredible. The fritted disc is definitely something awesome that is just now seeming to make a big appearance on the market.

Honey comb;

These pieces are absolutely incredible! While not only being extremely photogenic, the honeycombs resemble the fritted discs but are slightly more put together, rather than just being a sheet of crushed glass. The honeycomb considerably cools down the smoke and allows the user to take bigger hits!

Pinwheel;

Combining the Dewar perc with low placed arms that form a swirling pattern, this kind of perc is like a remade version of the ring perc that is found in some pieces. The appeal of the pinwheel is the "slow draw", although this method hasn't been proven to increase high. The hit from a pinwheel is incredibly smooth.

Some people think that by getting a piece with a percolator in it is a waste of money. There are stoners who are 100% against them, claiming that a regular bong with a straight pipe is exactly the same as any piece containing a perc. In my personal experience, this is completely untrue. By having a perc in your bong, the smoke is filtered and cooled, allowing you to take smoother, bigger hits. It's highly recommended that you buy bongs that contain some sort of perc, depending on your personal preference! The choice can be hard but you'll be thankful when you're taking those huge hits!

For most people, this time of year includes a world full of cold snow. Even though the temperature may be freezing, stoners still love to smoke in different places, even if it means bundling up! Winter is a gorgeous time of year for some people and smokers who deal with this white stuff six months out of the year always have a favorite spot to chill and smoke when it's cold outside. These are the top five places to smoke during the snowy winter!

- Fireplace

Of course smoking in front of the fire place would be on this list! While some stoners don't have the liberty of being able to do this, those that can take full advantage. There's nothing like sitting in front of a nice warm fire while a snowstorm rages outside and you share a joint/bowl/bong with someone you care about, whether it be a boyfriend, girlfriend, or group of buddies.

- Igloo

Most people who live in snowy areas know how to make an igloo. What else are you going to do with the four feet of snow on the ground? Making an igloo not only provides a dope spot to toke, but you will be enjoying nature but yet staying out of the real cold. You can make igloos big enough for friends or just yourself. Just make sure that you make a chimney or the hot smoke may collapse your creation!

- Car

Hotboxing a car in a blizzard is an epic experience. Watching the snow fall can become a seriously time consuming activity. This situation can also be spent driving around but it's not recommended if it's actually snowing. Best to wait until the storm stops if you're going to cruise, otherwise it's fun just to park somewhere and get high.

- Mountain

Skiers and snowboarders alike love to smoke weed on the chairlift and it's pretty awesome. Sharing a joint while the lift takes you above the treetops is seriously epic. The scenery is great, the feeling of being on the mountain is great, and it's just an awesome place to be getting stoned.

- Hikes

If you have the option, taking a hike can be a cool way to get high. Roll a joint or a blunt, bundle up, and travel along the snowy woods. If it's just snowed, the woods get eerily quiet and definitely beautiful. Hikes are a favorite of cold weather stoners.

Growing cannabis is a serious pain and can be very frustrating if you're working hard to get a plant healthy when all it does is droop. Getting a plant to yield the amount that you want can be extremely difficult so that's what this article is about. If you follow these ten guidelines that were put forth by the botanical brilliance of Marijuana Growers HQ, your buds should look better, smoke smoother, and all around just be a better harvest.

1. Research

Education is everything and I will preach that until I'm blue in the face. By reading and studying the cannabis plant, you'll get to understand it better. If you understand the plant, there's more you can do to improve it's growth and health over the course of it's life. Marijuana is not a tomato plant and is far harder to grow so while this step might seem slightly mundane, it's very important to the growth of the plant.

2. Proper Space

If you can't grow more than five plants, you shouldn't be trying to grow more than five plants. Cramming a ton of plants in to an overcrowded growroom will result in stunted plants and less than satisfactory buds. The room should be spacious, clean, ventilated, and organized.

3. Separate The Room

Veg rooms and flower rooms should be separated, unless you're only growing one crop and all of the plants are at the same stage. A flower light cycle shouldn't interfere with the veg cycle. Separating these two rooms will ensure that your grow room functions the way that it should.

4. Light Per Sq Foot

Light can be infuriating when you don't know how much you should be using when growing. The standard that MGHQ has set forth is 30 watts of light per square foot of space. Of course, the more light you add, the better as long as the heat is controlled.

5. Ventilation

Keeping an airflow will ensure that your plants are growing strong stalks, stems, and leaves. The wind causes the plant to grow stronger, since plants use Co2 to photosynthesize. Constantly flowing air also prevents humidity from building up and therefore, mold growth.

6. Keep It Simple, Stupid

You're not going to grow a huge, epic harvest your first time. The only way that this scenario will happen is if you have a professional grower helping you out. Start with easy strains and save the heavy hitters for when you know what you're doing. That way, you're not going to kill a bunch of awesome plants on the off chance that you do something wrong.

7. Nute Brands

Stick to one brand of nutrients for your plants (Foxfarm for example). Each different brand will produce all that you need to get the plants in tip top shape. If you mix brands, you could be getting different amounts of certain vitamins and it could throw off the chemistry of the plant. It could also cause lockout, among other issues.

8. Cleanliness

Keep the room clean! Mess and clutter will stress the crop out and you definitely don't want that. Throw away trash and clean up spills. Any buildup of spills, trash, or dead leaves can be an invitation for pests to invade the space.

9. Silence

Don't broadcast to your friends that you're growing, especially if they know where you live. Marijuana can bring a lot of money in and robbers will risk a lot to get their hands on your plants. Not only that but snitches seem to be able to hear for miles and the last thing you want is to get busted.

10. Genetics

Growing a plant from a seed that you found in a bag of crappy mids obviously isn't going to bloom in to a beautiful plant. While your first try should be a slightly less tough to grow strain, you shouldn't try to grow something that no one will want to smoke when it's harvested and cured.